Nectarine tree (Red Jewel)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during the first half of July, with first picking on Jul. 1, 1990, and the last picking on Jul. 15, 1990. The fruit is uniformly large in size, very good in flavor, attractive in appearance, freestone in type, very firm in texture, and full red in skin color. The variety originated as a second generation seedling of a cross between Red Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165) and Autumn Free (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,976).

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we,the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine, peach,plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as "Red Jewel". The present variety wasoriginated by us in 1981 in a cultivated area of our experimentalorchard at Bradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (SanJoaquin Valley). It was obtained by growing an open pollinated seed froman unnamed seedling. This unnamed seedling was previously developed as across of the selected seed parent, Red Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,165), and the selected pollen parent, Autumn Free (U.S. Plant Pat. No.2,976). Subsequent to origination of the present variety of nectarinetree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting, and suchreproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to theoriginal plant in all respects.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed grandparent, the RedDiamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), in fruit appearance by being a fullred colored freestone nectarine with excellent firmness, but isdistinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruitthat ripens 3 days later, is larger in size, is crispier in texture, andhas a yellow pit cavity that tightly surrounds the stone.

The present variety differs substantially from its selected pollengrandparent, the Autumn Free Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,976), byproducing fruit that ripens approximately 65 days earlier and that isfull red in color at harvest time.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruitdivided in the axial plane to reveal the flesh and stone, and typicalleaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of firm eating ripe on Jul. 8, 1990. All major color codedesignations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council,National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also usedoccasionally.

TREE

Size: Large.

Vigor: Vigorous.

Growth: Spreading and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy.

Production: Very productive.

Bearing: Regular bearer.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Shaggy.

Bark color.--Dark grayish yellowish brown [81. d.gy.yBr].

Lenticels.--Numerous. Color: Dark Orange yellow [72. d.OY]. Size: 1/8"to 3/8", [3.2-9.5 mm.].

Branches:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Color.--1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish pink [8. gy.Pk]. 1st Year WoodUnderside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older Wood: Moderateyellowish brown [77. m.yBr].

Lenticels.--Numerous, very small.

Leaves:

Size.--Large. Average Length: 53/8" [136.5 mm.]. Average Width: 15/8"[41.3 mm.].

Thickness.--Medium.

Form.--Elliptical.

Apex.--Acuminate.

Base.--Acute.

Surface.--Smooth.

Color.--Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. VentralSurface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Venation.--Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.--Average Length: 1/2" [12.7 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16" [1.6mm.]. Dorsal Color: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG]. Ventral Color:Light yellow green [119. l.YG].

Stipules.--Numerous. Length: 1/8" to 3/8" [3.2-9.5 mm.].

Glands.--Numbers: 2 to 4 per leaf. Position: Some alternately and someoppositely positioned on petiole and base of blade. Size: Medium. Form:Reniform. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Hardy.

Size.--Medium.

Length.--Medium.

Form.--Free.

Surface.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Blooming period.--Medium as compared with other varieties.

Size.--Small.

Color.--Moderate pink [5. m.Pk].

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Firm and eating ripe, Jul. 8. 1990.

Date of first picking: Jul. 1, 1990.

Date of last picking: Jul. 15, 1990.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.--2 11/16" [68.3 mm.].

Average traversely in suture plane.--27/8" [73.0 mm.].

Form: Uniform, slightly unsymmetrical, slightly oblong.

Longitudinal section form.--Oval.

Transverse section through diameter.--Round.

Suture: A shallow groove extending from the base to beyond the apex,becoming deeper toward the apex.

Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped throughout on both sides toward apex.

Lips: Slightly unequal.

Cavity: Flaring, elongated in the suture plane with a sharp suture markshowing on one side only.

Depth.--7/16" [11.1 mm.].

Breadth.--7/8" [22.2 mm.].

Base: Slightly truncate, with stem markings typical.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: Mostly oblique, depressed within the suture, short inlength on most, slightly mammiform on a few.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Average width.--3/16" [4.8 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Tenacity.--Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None observed as of yet.

Color.--A glossy dark red [16. d.R] over a vivid reddish orange [34.v.rO] background with a slight amount of brilliant orange yellow [67.brill.OY] freckling near the apex end.

Flesh:

Color.--Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] with very little moderate red[15. m.R] flecking.

Surface of pit cavity.--Covered with light yellow [86. l.Y] fibers.

Amygdalin.--Moderate.

Juice.--Moderate, rich.

Texture.--Firm, very crisp.

Fibers.--Abundant, fine.

Ripens.--Evenly.

Flavor.--Acidic and sweet.

Aroma.--Slight.

Eating quality.--Very good.

STONE

Type: Freestone.

Form: Oblong.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute.

Sides: Slightly unequal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex and pitted toward thebase.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

Color: Light brown [57. l.Br].

Pit wall: 3/16" [4.8 mm.] thick.

Tendency to split: None observed.

Kernel:

Form.--Oval.

Taste.--Sweet.

Viable.--Yes.

Average width.--7/16" [11.1 mm.].

Average length.--13/16" [20.6 mm.].

Color.--Light yellow [86. l.Y] when first cracked.

Pellicle color.--Moderate brown [58. m.Br].

Amygdalin.--Scant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Excellent.

Shipping quality: Excellent.

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantiallyas illustrated and described, which is most similar to its seedgrandparent, Red Diamond Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), byproducing freestone nectarines that are full red in skin color and veryfirm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvementthereon by producing fruit that ripens 3 days later, is larger in size,is crispier in texture, and has a yellow pit cavity that tightlysurrounds the stone.